Matplotlib Visuals

Matplotlib Panel Labels

Read the Panel Label First

Start with two panels: North and South. Each panel has Mon and Tue values. Read the panel label before comparing: the left panel is North, and the right panel is South. Now compare the same day across panels. On Tue, North is 6 and South is 3, so North is higher for Tue.

A tiny chart-reading step: read small-multiple panel labels before comparing panels.

highlighted = computed this step

Start with panel data

Start with 4 pinned rows across 2 labeled panels.

pinned rows by panel\text{pinned rows by panel}
Pinned Panel DatapaneldayvalueNorthMon4NorthTue6SouthMon5SouthTue3

Read each panel label

Read the panel labels before comparing the same day.

panel labels first\text{panel labels first}
Small-Multiple Labelspanel positionlabel to readleft panelNorthright panelSouth

Read the small multiples

Keep North and South in separate labeled panels.

small multiples\text{small multiples}
Small Multiples Read by Panel LabelRead panel labels before comparing valuesNorth panel0364Mon6TueSouth panel0365Mon3TueCompare the same day only after reading which panel is which.

Compare after reading labels

North Tuesday is higher than South Tuesday after reading the panel labels.

compare matching days\text{compare matching days}
Panel-Safe Readoutcheckreadoutleft panelNorthright panelSouthsame daycompare Tue with TuereadoutNorth Tue is higher than South Tue